Composer: Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber
Performer: Ars Antiqua Austria, Gunar Letzbor
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: Pan Classics
Catalogue: PC10409
Release: 2020
Size: 727 MB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes
CD 01
Rosenkranzsonate No. 1 in D Minor, C 90 “The Annunciation”
01. I. Praeludium
02. II. Aria allegro – Variatio
03. III. Adagio – Finale
Rosenkranzsonate No. 2 in A Major, C 91 “Mary’s Visit to Elizabeth”
04. I. Sonata
05. II. Allemande
06. III. Presto
Rosenkranzsonate No. 3 in B Minor, C 92 “The Nativity”
07. I. Sonata
08. II. Courante – Double
09. III. Adagio
10. Rosenkranzsonate No. 4 in D Minor, C 93 “The Presentation”
Rosenkranzsonate No. 5 in A Major, C 94 “Child Jesus in the Temple”
11. I. Praeludium
12. II. Allemande
13. III. Gigue
14. IV. Sarabande – Double
Rosenkranzsonate No. 6 in C Minor, C 95 “The Agony in the Garden”
15. Ia. Lamento
16. Ib. Adagio
17. Ic. Adagio
Rosenkranzsonate No. 7 in F Major, C 96 “The Scourging of Jesus”
18. I. Allemande – Variatio
19. II. Sarabande – Variatio
Rosenkranzsonate No. 8 in B-Flat Major, C 97 “The Crown of Thorns”
20. I. Sonata
21. II. Gigue – Doubles I & II
Rosenkranzsonate No. 9 in A Minor, C 98 “Carrying the Cross”
22. I. Sonata
23. II. Courante – Double
24. III. Finale
Rosenkranzsonate No. 10 in G Minor, C 99 “The Crucifixion”
25. I. Praeludium
26. II. Aria – Variatio
CD 02
Rosenkranzsonate No. 11 in G Major, C 100 “The Resurrection”
01. I. Sonata
02. II. Surrexit Christus hodie
03. III. Adagio
Rosenkranzsonate No. 12 in C Major, C 101 “The Ascension”
04. I. Intrada
05. II. Aria tubicinum
06. III. Allamande – Variatio
07. IV. Courante – Double
Rosenkranzsonate No. 13 in D Minor, C 102 “The Holy Ghost”
08. I. Sonata
09. II. Gavotte
10. III. Gigue
11. IV. Sarabande
Rosenkranzsonate No. 14 in D Major, C 103 “The Assumption of Mary”
12. I. Grave
13. II. Aria – Gigue
Rosenkranzsonate No. 15 in C Major, C 104 “Crowning of the Virgin Mary”
14. I. Sonata
15. II. Aria
16. III. Canzone
17. IV. Sarabande
18. Passacaglia in G Minor, C 105 “The Guardian Angel”
Eduard Melkus brought Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber’s (1644-1704) Rosary Sonatas (Rosenkranzsonaten) to new life with his groundbreaking 1967 recording. In the five decades that have passed since then, the pieces, which are as virtuoso as they are meditative in mood, have conquered a firm place in the discographies of ambitious baroque violinists. The Austrian violinist Gunar Letzbor has been considered one of the leading interpreters of this famous cycle since he recorded his interpretation on CD for the Arcana label in 1996. The success was overwhelming: the critics were enthusiastic and the recording is still today available in the label’s catalogue. Letzbor gave countless concerts with sonatas from Biber’s epochal work, earning himself a reputation as the Biber expert. In 2019, more than two decades later, richer in experience, in life and as an artist, Letzbor again dares to record Biber’s Rosary Sonatas. The new recording is not only more than 20 minutes longer than the 1996 recording, it also incorporates the latest research results, such as the “Salzburger Lautensatz”, an instrumentation of the lute continuo typical of Biber’s Salzburg days. In a detailed, highest readable booklet text Letzbor gives detailed information about his new approach.